Clamp

ABSTRACT

A clamp  21  includes a mount portion  23  mounted to an electric wire  3 , and a retaining portion  25  for retaining the mount portion  23  to a mating mount portion  7 . The retaining portion  25  is formed on a column  33  having a base end side  39  connected to the mount portion  23  through a rupture portion  31  which can be ruptured, and an engaging blade portion  35  provided on a tip end of the column  33  for engaging with the engaging hole  13  of the mating mount portion  7 . The rupture portion  31  is provided along a circumferential direction of the column  33.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a clamp for fixing a predeterminedposition of an electric wire which is wired in a vehicle or the like andfor neatening a wiring attitude of the electric wire.

BACKGROUND ART

FIG. 1 shows a proposed clamp A clamp 1 includes a mount portion 5mounted to a wire harness 3 comprising a plurality of electric wires,and a retaining portion 9 which is provided on a lower surface of themount portion 5 for retaining the mount portion 5 to a panel 7 of avehicle or the like which is a mating mount portion.

The retaining portion 9 includes a column 11 projecting from the mountportion 5, and a pair of engaging blade portions 15 and 15 connected tothe column 11 and engaged with a engaging hole 13 of the panel 7. Eachof the engaging blade portions 15 and 15 are inclined so that theengaging blade portion 15 gradually spreads outward from a tip end ofthe column 11 toward the mount portion 5, and the engaging blade portion15 has resilience. The engaging blade portion 15 is provided at its tipend with an engaging step portion 17 to be engaged with an opening edgeof the engaging bole 13 of the panel 7.

In the clamp 1, the mount portion 5 is prior-mounted to a predeterminedposition of the wire harness 3 by a tape winder 19. Then, the engagingblade portions 15 are pushed into the engaging hole 13. The engagingstep portions 17 are engaged with opening edges of the engaging hole 13.In this state, the engaging step portions 17 are biased outward byresilient forces of the engaging blade portions 15 and 15, and anengaged state with respect to the engaging hole 13 is held. As a result,the predetermined position of the wire harness 3 is fixed to the panel 7by the clamp 1 in a state in which the wire harness 3 is wired in avehicle or the like.

In the clamp 1, when the wire harness 3 is removed from the panel 7 atthe time of separated dumping or the recycling of vehicle or the like,engaging blade portion 15 of the clamp 1 is forcibly bent against itsresilient force, thereby releasing the engagement between the engagingstep portion 17 and the engaging hole 13 of the panel 7. The mountportion 5 is separated from the panel 7 in this state, thereby removingthe wire harness 3 from the panel 7.

However, in this clamp 1, the rigidity of the engaging blade portion 15is set high so that the engaged state between the engaging step portion17 and the engaging hole 13 is not released by inadvertent force.Therefore, it is difficult to forcibly bend the engaging blade portion15 against its resilient force. Thus, it takes time and labor to removethe wire harness 3 from the panel 7.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problemand it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp capableof easily removing an electric wire from a mating mount portion.

The first aspect of the present invention provides a clamp, comprising:a mount portion to be mounted to an electric wire; and a retainingportion for retaining the mount portion to a mating mount portion, theretaining portion, comprising: a rupture portion which can be ruptured;a column having a base end side connected to the mount portion throughthe rupture portion; and an engaging blade portion provided on a tip endof the column and engaged with an opening of the mating mount portion,wherein the rupture portion is provided along a circumferentialdirection of the column.

According to the first aspect, a mount portion is mounted to apredetermined position of an electric wire, engaging blade portions areengaged with engaging holes, the mount portion is retained to a matingmount portion, and the electric wire is fixed to the mating mountportion. If a rupture portion is ruptured in a state in which theelectric wire is fixed to the mating mount portion, the fixed state ofthe electric wire to the mating mount portion can be released.

Since the rupture portion is provided on the column in thecircumferential direction, when inadvertent force is applied to theelectric wire in a state in which the electric wire is fixed to themating mount portion, the inadvertent force is dispersed to the entireregion of the rupture portion, and it is possible to prevent the ruptureportion from being ruptured.

The second aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the ruptureportion is formed by a plurality of thin portions, having predeterminedpitches from one another.

According to the second aspect, the rupture portion of the column isformed by a plurality of thin portions provided along thecircumferential direction. Therefore, it is possible to rupture therupture portion more easily in a state in which the electric wire isfixed to the mating mount portion.

The third aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the base end sideof the column is formed into a columnar shape.

According to the third aspect, the base end side of the column is formedinto a columnar shape. Therefore, it is possible to more reliablydisperse the inadvertent force applied to the electric wire in the fixedstate of the electric wire to the mating mount portion.

The fourth aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising; anabutting portion provided on the column, wherein the abutting portionabuts against the mating mount portion in a state in which the mountportion is engaged with the mating mount portion.

According to the fourth aspect, the abutting portion is abutted againstthe mating mount portion in addition to the engagement of the engagingblade portion with the engaging hole in the state in which the electricwire is fixed to the mating mount portion. Therefore, the retainingportion is retained to the mating mount portion reliably.

The fifth aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the abuttingportion is formed by an annular plate member, and projected outward inthe circumferential direction of the column.

According to the fifth aspect, the abutting portion is formed into theannular plate member and thus, the inadvertent force applied to thecolumn can be dispersed more reliably in a state in which the electricwire is fixed to the mating mount portion.

The sixth aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising; aprojecting portion provided at end of the mounting portion inlongitudinal direction.

According to the sixth aspect, the end of the mount portion in thelongitudinal direction is provided with the projecting portion. Withthis, when the electric wire is removed from the mating connector, ifthe mount portion is turned around the projecting portion, the ruptureportion can be ruptured easily.

The seventh aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising; athrough hole provided on the mount portion, wherein the base end side isaccommodated in the through hole.

According to the seventh aspect, since the base end side of the columnis accommodated in the through hole of the mount portion, the clamp canbe reduced in size correspondingly.

The eighth aspect of the present invention provides the clamp accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising; anengaging step portion provided at a tip end of the engaging bladeportion, wherein the engaging step is engaged with an opening edge ofthe opening.

According to the eighth aspect, since the engaging step portion whichengages with the opening edge is provided, the engaging blade portion isengaged with the opening reliably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a proposed clamp;

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of a state in which a wire harness ismounted to a panel in the clamp of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2B is a sectional view of a state in which the wire harness isremoved from the panel in the clamp of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2C is a sectional view of a state in which the wire harness wasremoved from the panel in the clamp of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp in the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGS. 2A, B and C;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the clamp of the embodiment of theinvention, which is taken along a line IV—IV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is sectional view of the clamp of the embodiment of theinvention, which is taken along a line V—V in FIG. 2A.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below withreference to the drawings, wherein like numbers are designated by likereference characters.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are explanatory views of operation from a state in whicha wire harness is mounted to a panel to a state in which the wireharness is removed from the panel according to a first embodiment of aclamp of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of theclamp shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the clamp,which is taken along a line IV—IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a sectional viewof the clamp, which is taken along a line V—V in FIG. 2A.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a clamp 21 of the embodiment comprises anintegrally molded product made of synthetic resin. The clamp 21 includesa mount portion 23 mounted to a wire harness 3 comprising a plurality ofelectric wires, and a retaining portion 25 for retaining a mount portion23 to a panel 7 of a vehicle or the like which is a mating mountportion.

The mount portion 23 is formed into a rectangular shape, and hasprotecting portions 27 which project in a widthwise direction fromopposite sides of a lower surface of the mount portion 23. The mountportion 23 is provided at its central portion with a through hole 29,having substantially circular opening, passing through the mount portion23 from an upper surface thereof to a lower surface thereof.

The retaining portion 25 comprises a column 33, and an engaging bladeportion 35, which engages with the engaging hole 13 of the panel 7,mounted on a tip end of a lower portion 41 which is a tip end of thecolumn 33. In the column 33, an upper portion 39 which is a base endside of the column 33 is connected to the mount portion 23 through aflexible rupture portion 31 which can be ruptured.

The rupture portion 31 comprises a plurality of thin portions 37provided around an inner peripheral surface of the through hole 29 alongthe circumferential direction. A predetermined pitch is set betweenadjacent thin portions 37, and the plurality of thin portions 37 projectfrom the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 29 toward theupper portion 39. Each of the thin portions 37 is formed into a thinplate-like shape whose thickness is set smaller than that of the mountportion 23, and the thin portion 37 has flexibility. An upper surface ofthe thin portion 37 is formed into a recessed shape between the tip endand a base end of the mount portion 23, and a lower surface of the thinportion 37 is substantially flush with the lower surface of the mountportion 23. The thin portion 37 is ruptured if it is pulled between thethrough the hole 29 of the mount portion 23 and a later-described column33.

The column 33 which is connected to the mount portion 23 through therupture portion 31 is disposed in a vertical direction. The upperportion 39 is formed into a columnar shape having a diameter smallerthan that of the through hole 29 of the mount portion 23. The upperportion 39 projects outward with respect to an outer peripheral surfaceof the lower portion 41. The upper portion 39 of the column 33 isaccommodated in the through hole 29 of the mount portion 23, and anupper surface of the upper portion 39 is disposed slightly below anupper surface of the mount portion 23. An outer peripheral surface ofthe upper end of the upper portion 39 of the column 33 accommodated inthe through hole 29 is opposed to an inner peripheral surface of thethrough hole 29 at a predetermined distance from each other.

Tip ends of the thin portions 37 of the rupture portion 31 are connectedto the outer peripheral surface of the column 33 which is opposed to theinner peripheral surface of the through hole 29, and the rupture portion31 is disposed along the circumferential direction. The column 33 canmove with respect to the mount portion 23 around the rupture portion 31.That is, the mount portion 23 can be displaced vertically with respectto the column 33 around the rupture portion 31. The upper portion 39 ofthe column 33 is provided with an abutting portion 42 which abutsagainst the panel 7 in its retaining state to the panel 7 of the mountportion 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, the abutting portion 42 comprises an annular platemember and projects outward in a circumferential direction from a lowerend of an outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 39. The abuttingportion 42 is gradually inclined downward from the base end toward thetip end, and a diameter of the tip end is greater than that of theengaging hole 13. The tip end of the abutting portion 42 abuts againstthe upper surface of the panel 7. When the tip end of the abuttingportion 42 abuts against the upper surface of the panel 7, the entireretaining portion 25 is restrained from moving downward.

The engaging blade portions 35 are connected to the lower end of thelower portion 41 of the column 33. The engaging blade portions 35gradually incline outward from the lower end of the lower portion 41 ofthe column 33 toward the mount portion 23, and are disposed on eitherside of the column 33. Each engaging blade portion 35 is resilientlydisplaced toward the column 33 around the lower end of the lower portion41. The engaging blade portion 35 is provided at its tip end with anengaging step portion 43 for engaging with the engaging hole 13 of thepanel 7.

The engaging step portion 43 is engaged with the opening edge of theengaging hole 13 of the panel 7, and is biased outward by the resilientforce of the engaging blade portion 35. The engaged state between thepanel 7 and the engaging hole 13 is held. The engaging step portion 43restrains the entire retaining portion 25 from moving upward in itsengaged state with the engaging hole 13.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the clamp 21 is used, the mount portion 23 isfirst mounted to a predetermined position of the wire harness 3. Next,the mount portion 23 is retained to the panel 7 by the retaining portion25.

When the mount portion 23 is mounted to a predetermined position of thewire harness 3, the upper surface of the mount portion 23 is set alongthe wire harness 3 and in this state, mount portion 23 and the wireharness 3 are wound around the tape winder 19. The mount portion 23mounted to the wire harness 3 is retained to the panel 7 by theretaining portion 25.

When the mount portion 23 is retained to the panel 7, the engaging bladeportion 35 of the retaining portion 25 is previously aligned with theengaging hole 13 of the panel 7 and in this state, the mount portion 23is moved downward, and the engaging blade portion 35 is pushed into theengaging hole 13 of the panel 7. When the engaging blade portion 35 ispushed into the engaging hole 13 of the panel 7, the outer surface ofthe engaging blade portion 35 slides the opening edge of the engaginghole 13. The engaging blade portion 35 is displaced toward the column 33around the lower end of the lower portion 41.

If the engaging blade portion 35 is further pushed into the engaginghole 13 and the engaging step portion 43 is disposed in the engaginghole 13, the engaging step portion 43 is biased outward by the resilientforce of the engaging blade portion 35. The engaging step portion 43 isengaged with the opening edge of the engaging hole 13. At that time, theengaging blade portion 35 keeps the engaged state with the engaging hole13 of the engaging step portion 43 by its own resilient force.

The retaining portion 25 of the clamp 21 is retained to the panel 7. Themount portion 23 is retained to the panel 7 by retaining the retainingportion 25 to the panel 7, and the predetermined position of the wireharness 3 is fixed to the panel 7.

In this state, because the panel 7 of the engaging step portion 43 isengaged with the engaging hole 13, the entire retaining portion 25 isrestrained from moving upward. Further, the tip end of the abuttingportion 42 abuts against the upper surface of the panel 7, and theentire retaining portion 25 is restrained from moving downward.Therefore, the retaining portion 25 of the clamp 21 is prevented fromrattling when force such as inadvertent force is applied, and theretaining portion 25 is reliably retained to the panel 7. Therefore, itis possible to reliably fix the predetermined position of the wireharness 3 to the panel 7.

When the wire harness 3 whose predetermined position is fixed to thepanel 7 by the clamp 21 is removed, a portion of the wire harness 3disposed to one side in the longitudinal direction of the mount portion23 is pulled upward as shown with an arrow in FIG. 2B.

When the wire harness 3 is pulled upward, one side of the mount portion23 is pulled upward and displaced in accordance with the tension of thewire harness 3. Therefore, the mount portion 23 is displaced upwardaround the rupture portion 31, and the other side of the mount portion23 in the longitudinal direction is displaced downward, and is inclinedas a whole. At that time since the retaining portion 25 is reliablyretained to the panel 7, the clamp 21 can reliably displace the mountportion 23 around the rupture portion 31. When the mount portion 23 isdisplaced to a predetermined position, the projecting portion 27 on theother side in the longitudinal direction abuts against an upper surfaceof the panel 7.

If the wire harness 3 is further pulled upward in this state, the mountportion 23 is caused to turn around the projecting portion 27 whichabuts against the upper surface of the panel 7. Thus, the plurality ofthin portions 37 of the rupture portion 31 are pulled between the innerperipheral surface of the through hole 29 and the outer peripheralsurface of the column 33, and ruptured by using leverage.

In a state in which all of the plurality of thin portions 37 of therupture portion 31 are ruptured, as shown in FIG. 2C, the mount portion23 and the retaining portion 25 are separated, the retaining state ofthe mount portion 23 to the panel 7 is released and the mount portion 23is brought into a free state. Thus, the fixation of the wire harness 3to the panel 7 by the clamp 21 is released. If the wire harness 3 ispulled upward as shown with an arrow in FIG. 2C, the wire harness 3 canbe removed from the panel 7 together with the mount portion 23.

In the clamp 21 of this embodiment, in the state in which the wireharness 3 is fixed to the panel 7, if the portion of the wire harness 3disposed on one side of the mount portion 23 in the longitudinaldirection is pulled upward to displace the mount portion 23, the ruptureportion 31 is ruptured. The fixation of the wire harness 3 to the panel7 is released, and the wire harness 3 can easily be removed from thepanel 7.

In the clamp 21, the rupture portion 31 is formed of the plurality ofthin portions 37 provided along the circumferential direction. Wheninadvertent force is applied to the wire harness 3 in the fixed state ofthe wire harness 3 to the panel 7, the inadvertent force is dispersed tothe thin portions 37 of the rupture portion 31, and it is possible toprevent the rupture portion 31 from being ruptured. Thus, in the clamp21, it is possible to reliably fix the wire harness 3 to the panel 7.

In the clamp 21, when the rupture portion 31 is ruptured, the mountportion 23 is displaced around the projecting portion 27 which abutsagainst the upper surface of the panel 7. The plurality of thin portions37 of the rupture portion 31 can be pulled between the through hole 29and the column 33 by using leverage caused by displacement of the mountportion 23. As a result, in the clamp 21, it is possible to easilyrupture the rupture portion 31 and to remove the wire harness 3 from thepanel 7.

In the clamp 21, the rupture portion 31 is provided along thecircumferential direction of the upper portion 39 of the column 33.Thus, in a state in which the wire harness 3 is fixed to the panel 7,the inadvertent force applied to the wire harness 3 can be dispersedmore reliably. Therefore, it is possible to fix the wire harness 3 tothe panel 7 more reliably.

In the clamp 21, the upper end of the upper portion 39 of the column 33is accommodated in the through hole 29 of the mount portion 23.Therefore, the clamp 21 can be reduced in size in correspondence withthe amount of the upper portion 39 accommodated in the through hole 29.

In the clamp 21 of the embodiment, in addition to the engagement of thepanel 7 of the engaging step portion 43 with the engaging hole 13, thetip end of the abutting portion 42 abuts against the upper surface ofthe panel 7, and the retaining portion 25 is reliably retained to thepanel 7. Therefore, it is possible to fix, at a predetermined position,the wire harness 3 to the panel 7 more reliably.

Although the rupture portion 31 is formed of the plurality of thinportions 37 in the clamp 21 of this embodiment, the rupture portion 31may be formed of a continuous annular thin portion.

In the clamp 21, the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 29provided in the mount portion 23 and the outer peripheral surface of theupper portion 39 of the column 33 are connected to each other by therupture portion 31. Instead, the through hole 29 of the mount portion 23may be omitted, and the lower surface of the mount portion 23 and thecolumn 33 may be connected by means of the rupture portion 31.

Although the invention has been described above by reference to certainembodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to theembodiments described above will occur to these skilled in the art, inlight of the teachings. The scope of the invention is defined withreference to the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, if a rupture portion is ruptured in a state in which theelectric wire is fixed to the mating mount portion, the fixed state ofthe electric wire to the mating mount portion can be released and thusthe electric wire can be easily removed from the mating mount portion.Since the rupture portion is provided on the column in a circumferentialdirection, when inadvertent force is applied to the electric wire in astate in which the electric wire is fixed to the mating mount portion,the inadvertent force is dispersed to the entire region of the ruptureportion, and it is possible to prevent the rupture portion from beingruptured. As a result, the electric wire can be reliably fixed to themating mount portion.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the first aspect, the rupture portion of the column is formedof a plurality of thin portions provided along the circumferentialdirection. Thus, the rupture portion can be ruptured more easily.Therefore, it is possible to remove the electric wire from the matingmount portion more easily in a state in which the electric wire is fixedto the mating mount portion.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the first aspect, the base end side of the column is formedinto a columnar shape. Therefore, it is possible to more reliablydisperse the inadvertent force applied to the electric wire in the fixedstate of the electric wire to the mating mount portion. Thus, theelectric wire can be fixed to the mating mount portion more reliably.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the first aspect, the abutting portion abuts against themating mount portion in addition to the engagement between the engagingblade portion and the engaging hole. Therefore, the rupture portion isretained to the mating mount portion reliably, and the electric wire canbe fixed to the mating mount portion at a predetermined position morereliably.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the fourth aspect, the abutting portion is formed into theannular plate member and thus, the inadvertent force applied to thecolumn can be dispersed more reliably in a state in which the electricwire is fixed to the mating mount portion. Thus, the electric wire canbe reliably fixed to the mating mount portion.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the first aspect, the end of the mount portion in thelongitudinal direction is provided with the projecting portion. Withthis, when the electric wire is removed from the mating connector, ifthe mount portion is turned around the projecting portion, the ruptureportion can be ruptured easily. Thus, the electric wire can be removedfrom the mating mount portion more easily in a state in which theelectric wire is fixed to the mating mount portion.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the first aspect, since the base end side of the column isaccommodated in the through hole of the mount portion, the clamp can bereduced in size correspondingly.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to theeffect of the first aspect, since the engaging step portion whichengages with the opening edge is provided, the engaging blade portion isengaged with the opening reliably. Therefore, the electric wire can befixed to the mating mount portion reliably.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clamp, comprising: a mount portion to be mounted to an electric wire; and a retaining portion for retaining the mount portion to a mating mount portion, the retaining portion, comprising: a rupture portion which can be ruptured; a column having a base end side connected to the mount portion through the rupture portion; and an engaging blade portion provided on a tip end of the column and engaged with an opening of the mating mount portion, wherein the rupture portion is provided along a circumferential direction of the column.
 2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the rupture portion is formed by a plurality of thin portions, having predetermined pitches from one another.
 3. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the base end side of the column is formed into a columnar shape.
 4. A clamp according to claim 1, further comprising; an abutting portion provided on the column, wherein the abutting portion abuts against the mating mount portion in a state in which the mount portion is engaged with the mating mount portion.
 5. A clamp according to claim 4, wherein the abutting portion is formed by an annular plate member, and projected outward in the circumferential direction of the column.
 6. A clamp according to claim 1, further comprising; a projecting portion provided at end of the mounting portion in longitudinal direction.
 7. A clamp according to claim 1, further comprising: a through hole provided on the mount portion, wherein the base end side is accommodated in the through hole.
 8. A clamp according to claim 1, further comprising; an engaging step portion provided at a tip end of the engaging blade portion, wherein the engaging step is engaged with an opening edge of the opening. 